About the Document
This is a press release from the Metropolitan Police, published on 13 May 2026 by its Newsdesk. It reports results of a live facial recognition (LFR) pilot in Croydon, where static cameras were deployed for the first time.
Key Findings
- Over the six-month pilot, which ran from October 2025 to March 2026, crime in the area fell by 10.5 per cent compared with the same period the previous year.
- Violence against women and girls offences were down by 21 per cent, the largest reduction reported.
- Officers used the static cameras in 24 operations and made 173 arrests, described as one arrest every 35 minutes.
- The operation also led to 37 arrests for breaches of court-imposed conditions.
- The document states that 61 per cent of offences linked to arrests were committed in Croydon.
Pilot Design and Method
For the pilot, cameras were mounted on existing infrastructure such as lampposts rather than housed in a dedicated van, allowing deployments to be run more flexibly. Two locations were used, at the north and south ends of Croydon's high street. Camera feeds were monitored remotely, which freed specialist vans for use elsewhere. Cameras were only activated during deployments, when officers were on the ground.
Watchlists and Accuracy
Each deployment used a bespoke, intelligence-led watchlist, created no more than 24 hours in advance and deleted immediately afterwards, in line with policy. More than 470,000 people walked past the camera during the pilot, and there was just one false alert. The document states that no one has ever been arrested as a result of a false alert from LFR.
Official Statements
Lindsey Chiswick, national and Met lead for live facial recognition, said the results show the tool is powerful "when it's used carefully, openly and in the right places". She stated that the Met will continue using static cameras in Croydon as part of its regular LFR deployments.
Case Examples
The release lists arrests including a 36-year-old woman wanted for failing to appear at court for a 2004 assault, a 31-year-old man wanted for voyeurism, and a 41-year-old man wanted for rape. Notes to editors describe further individual cases, including sentences handed down at Croydon Crown Court, Wood Green Crown Court and Croydon Magistrates' Court.
Why It Matters for Croydon Residents and Policing Strategy
The document says the Met continues engagement sessions with Croydon residents and councillors to explain how LFR works, the safeguards in place, and how deployments are shaped by local intelligence. It presents the pilot as part of the Met's wider LFR capability, aimed at removing dangerous offenders and keeping London safe.